My Xtreme Hike Story

Pre-COVID, from 2014-2019, our annual fundraiser, Crawl for a Cure - CF, raised a collective total of $54,000+ for Cystic Fibrosis research.  While we cancelled the event for three consecutive years (due to COVID), our remote fundraising efforts managed to raise $6,000+ for this great cause, and I was able to participate in the 2022 Xtreme Hike.  Unfortunately, we will not be hosting the bar crawl this year but are working on a plan for a new fundraiser next year

For 2023, I'm happy to share that I will once again be partaking in the Xtreme Hike. The Massachusetts Xtreme Hike is an incredible event that challenges participants to hike a grueling ~26 mile trail in the beautiful Berkshires. And while the hike itself is certainly a physical and mental challenge-- it pales in comparison to the daily challenges patients with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) live with.  It's also an opportunity to raise much-needed funds for the CFF-- 100% of the proceeds go towards supporting critical research, drug development, and other important initiatives that help improve the lives of those living with CF.

For me, this hike is personal. My cousin Leah has battled CF her entire life and I hike for her. She is an inspiration to me and so many others, and I'm honored to be able to represent her in this event. Leah has personally benefited from each of your past donations as she has been taking Trikafta, a breakthrough drug treating the underlying causes of CF, since 2018 and her health continues to improve.  Fun fact: Leah was awarded the MA/RI CFF chapter "2022 CF Star Award" last month for exemplary commitment to supporting her local community while advancing the mission of the CFF.

If you're interested in supporting my fundraising efforts for the CFF, please consider making a donation! For the 8yrs of our recent fundraising events, we have surpassed $60k in donations and we want to keep it going!  Any amount, big or small, will make a difference in the lives of those living with CF.  Here are some exciting updates to share, a direct result of your donations....

• hot off the press: the CFF just updated the life expectancy for those living with CF to 56yrs old -- up 15yrs+ from just a decade ago.  REMARKABLE 
• the CFF expects Trikafta (the drug Leah has benefitted from) for ages 2-5 to be FDA approved later this year (to date it's only been FDA approved for CF patients ages 6+)
• The CFF has a drug development pipeline with more programs than ever before. The collaborations with leading biotech and venture capital firms have resulted in 35 major industry research programs focused on genetic science
  
• Several clinical trials for CF genetic therapies are underway or will begin in the coming year, including three promising mRNA therapies
  
• CF care teams offer highly specialized care through their extraordinary network of more than 130 CF care centers nationwide, which the CFF helps fund

Note from the CFF:

There are approximately 30,000 Americans living with cystic fibrosis. They are moms, dads, sisters, brothers, daughters, sons, and friends who struggle every day just to breathe. I hike for them. Will you join me and support my fundraising goal?

Real progress has been made for those who have CF, but there is still no cure for this devastating disease and many lives are cut far too short. We’ve come so far, but there’s still so much work to do. I will not stop hiking until all those with cystic fibrosis have a cure. We will not leave anyone behind.

Please support me!

We are at a pivotal moment in the history of cystic fibrosis and your support matters. With your help, we can invest our resources in research today, while raising funds for tomorrow, to ensure we have what it takes to reach the finish line. Together, we can make CF stand for Cure Found. Please help me reach my fundraising goal by donating to my Xtreme Hike fundraising campaign today!